A Message from Remos Reynosa, ISTD, USISTD :

Recently because of a conversation that came up with one of my students about getting a first place at competition, I decided to write this article.  The article should be titled, “And Why do We Compete?” 

I have trained many dance competitors in my career, one with steel pins in her hips, people with crippling arthritis, artificial limbs, hearing impaired, and a dance team that had no sight…many dancing Pro-Am as well as at Amateur levels.  But of course the majority of my competition students have been physically fit, active, motivated individuals, both men and women, who compete because they love to dance and want to excel in dancing.  I have also trained professional competitors and won hundreds of titles with students and professionals alike.  But my idea of the reason for competition dancing seems to be a bit different than most other people that I come into contact with.

Just before I began to write this article I was watching the “Escape from Alcatraz” Triathlon race.  It was interesting to note that announcers dedicated a good portion of the program to the real champions of the race.  Yes, a short interview with the winners and an award presentation was briefly shown at the end of the program, but the other participants, like the woman who survived lung cancer and was participating in the event, the man who had 54” waistline before he decided to get in shape to compete, the football player who decided to compete and found out the training to play football was a walk in the park compared to the race course.  Yes, many of the 1,500 competitors were not the winners but they were in the race against all odds for many different reasons besides a challenge against other competitors.  Many competitors knew they could not win the race, but their goal of competing in the event was being met and for them just getting to that goal was the biggest challenge.

Everyone wants to be a winner!!!  Not just in a race, or a dance competition.  What may be a winner for one person may not necessarily be a winner in others’ eyes.  I realize getting a first place is a highly prized goal.  It is considered proof that you’re the best.  Right?  On the surface that may seem true but behind the scenes is where a true champion shines like a neon light in the dark.

When I see a student with a dream of competition dancing becoming a reality, regardless of age, body size, physical limitations, financial difficulties or many other problems, it motivates me to want to do everything possible to make that dream come true.  Many times during competitions I hear snide comments from other dancers and the audience about someone who is on the floor dancing their heart out.

Most of the comments come from someone who had never been on the competition floor experiencing the anxiety of dancing in front of hundreds of other people, most of them very critical of dancers.  They remind me of the armchair quarterback that always knows exactly what play to make, how to make it and what the outcome will be once the play is made.  Spectators are mostly experts that have never been anything but a spectator and believe me will never do anything but spectate and speculate, because if they did compete someone would be able to judge their performance.

Many times at a competition I have heard comments from men and women stating that, “They could have danced better, performed better, done whatever better,” and have even had some of them walk up to a student who just got off the floor and advise them on how they could have taken a better line or how they should have looked.  When the student left, I walked up to the critic and asked, “If you could have done better why aren’t you competing?”  First there is a shocked look on their face, then a befuddled look as they try to think of the reason why they are not competing, since after all they are all such experts…then the excuses!!!!!  “I don’t have the time.”  “I don’t have the money.”  “I’m too old.”  “I’m too fat.”  “I’m too skinny.”  “I’m not pretty enough.”  “I’m too tall.”  “I’m too short.”  “I don’t have enough hair.”  “My eyelashes are not long enough.”  “I only dance to appease my girlfriend.”  “I’m too macho for this crap.”

“My husband won’t let me.”  “My wife won’t let me.”  “My teacher is too short.”  “I can’t afford dance shoes.”  But of course the real excuse is, “I don’t have the guts.” 

To every excuse I have ever heard from the wanna-be’s, I have at least two answers or solutions.  It really boils down simply to lack of guts.  Where there is a will there is a way and without very much effort those that are out competing have figured a way to get there.

At every competition there will be the 70 year-olds-and-above competing.  There will be the youngsters competing…and everything in between.  Every competitor has a reason for competing and everyone of them are 1st place winners in my book because they are there.  Maybe some of them are beginners, maybe their costumes are not the greatest, maybe they are heavy, maybe their dancing is not the best…but they are there.  They have spent the money and time and made the effort to perform for but a few short minutes, and maybe be thrilled or devastated by the outcome, but they are there.  They, for a few short minutes were on the floor, dancing their hearts out for the audience to laugh at, criticize, critique, analyze, chew up and spit out or maybe to admire, cheer on and appreciate.  Next time you are in the audience which one will you be?  Choose wisely because someone may be listening to your comments and if you ever muster the guts, you may be on the floor dancing your heart out when someone makes one of these tasteless remarks.  You know, Karma is a killer.

In my mind and heart and sole, I truly believe that anyone that has the courage to compete is a FIRST PLACE WINNER AND A TRUE CHAMPION.